Had he lived, Italy would have known a new dynasty, and the Visconti would have reigned over Magna-Graecia.

He was a man such as the world rarely sees; but his ends, too earthly, were at war with the means he sought.

Had his ambition been more or less, he had been worthy of a realm mightier than the Caesars swayed; worthy of our solemn order; worthy of the fellowship of Mejnour, whom you now behold before you." The prince, who had listened with deep and breathless attention to the words of his singular guest, started from his seat at his last words.
"Imposter!" he cried, "can you dare thus to play with my credulity?
Sixty years have flown since my grandsire died; were he living, he had passed his hundred and twentieth year; and you, whose old age is erect and vigorous, have the assurance to pretend to have been his contemporary! But you have imperfectly learned your tale.

You know not, it seems, that my grandsire, wise and illustrious indeed, in all save his faith in a charlatan, was found dead in his bed, in the very hour when his colossal plans were ripe for execution, and that Mejnour was guilty of his murder." "Alas!" answered the stranger, in a voice of great sadness, "had he but listened to Mejnour,--had he but delayed the last and most perilous ordeal of daring wisdom until the requisite training and initiation had been completed,--your ancestor would have stood with me upon an eminence which the waters of Death itself wash everlastingly, but cannot overflow.

Your grandsire resisted my fervent prayers, disobeyed my most absolute commands, and in the sublime rashness of a soul that panted for secrets, which he who desires orbs and sceptres never can obtain, perished, the victim of his own frenzy." "He was poisoned, and Mejnour fled." "Mejnour fled not," answered the stranger, proudly--"Mejnour could not fly from danger; for to him danger is a thing long left behind.